Loudspeaker and attachment fitting

ABSTRACT

To secure a loudspeaker in the sound opening of a sound board, particularly when the loudspeaker must be mounted from locations accessible only with difficulty, for example in automobile receivers, a bowed thin springy sheet metal diaphragm is formed with projecting clips, projecting from the rearwardly bowed, that is, convexly bowed surface to be engaged by the loudspeaker, and with hook-like projections, projecting from the concavely bowed surface, to permit slipping one hook into the edge of the sound opening of the sound board, hooking the speaker into the clip, and then flattening the bowed diaphragm against spring pressure until the second hook engages around another side of the sound opening, of the sound board, the loudspeaker being then snapped in holding position on the diaphragm strip by another clip; the first clip can be replaced by deformable holding flaps or the like.

United States Patent Birkner et al.

[ 1 LOUDSPEAKER AND ATTACHMENT FITTING [75] Inventors: Udo Birkner, Heinde; Giinter Fritsch, l-lildesheim, both of Germany [73] Assignee: Blaupunkt-Werke GmbH,

Hildesheim, Germany [22] Filed: June 6, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 367,392

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 7, 1975 Primary ExaminerThomas W. Brown Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Flynn & Frishauf [57] ABSTRACT To secure a loudspeaker in the sound opening of a sound board, particularly when the loudspeaker must be mounted from locations accessible only with difficulty, for example in automobile receivers, a bowed thin springy sheet metal diaphragm is formed with projecting clips, projecting from the rearwardly bowed, that is, convexly bowed surface to be engaged by the loudspeaker, and with hook-like projections, projecting from the concavely bowed surface, to permit slipping one hook into the edge of the sound opening of the sound board, hooking the speaker into the clip, and then flattening the bowed diaphragm against spring pressure until the second hook engages around another side of the sound opening, of the sound board, the loudspeaker being then snapped in holding position on the diaphragm strip by another clip; the first clip can be replaced by deformable holding flaps or the like.

13 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures July 1, 1972 Germany 2232408 [52] US. Cl. 179/178, 181/31 B [51] Int. Cl H04r l/02 [58] Field of Search...; 179/178;181/31 R, 31 B [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 3,159,234 12/1964 Junk 181/31 B 3,339,960 9/1967 Gee 179/178 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 737,278 6/1966 Canada 181/31 Patented -Jan.7, 1975 3,859,480

2 Sheet' s-Sheet- 1 Patented Jan. 7, 1975 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 LOUDSPEAKER AND ATTACHMENT FITTING The present invention relates to a loudspeaker attachment fitting to attach loudspeakers to sound boards, and more particularly to permit attachment of loudspeakers in positions where accessibility is severely limited, such as, for example, in the dashboard assembly of automobiles.

It is usually customary to secure a loudspeaker on a sound board by means of screws. This leads to difficulties if the sound board is so shaped or located with respect to other structures that accessibility of both sides to the sound board is limited, as is frequently the case when loudspeakers are to be installed in automobile radios. Securing loudspeakers, therefore, is often difficult and in any event is time-consuming It is an object of the present invention to provide a loudspeaker and more particularly a loudspeaker attachment fitting construction which permits rapid installation of loudspeakers in locations where accessibility is impaired.

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Briefly, a strip or sheet, or diaphragm of springy material, which is bowed, is formed with projecting hooks adapted to engage over the edge of the rim of the sound opening in the sound board. At the convex side of the bowed sheet or strip, or diaphragm, a snap-connection to the loudspeaker is formed, for example by a pair of spring clips, or by one spring clip and deformable attachment flaps or the like. The loudspeaker may be preliminarily secured to the strip, for example by one clip, or the attachment flaps. The bowed diaphragm, or strip is then inserted, from behind, such that the hooks will overlap the edge of the sound board opening (for example an opening, or punched holes in the dashboard or similar structure of an automobile), and the loudspeaker is then pressed towards the sound board, thus flattening the bowed strip to provide for secure engagement of the hooks over the edge of the sound board, and snapping the loudspeaker into the remaining spring clip.

The invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the loudspeaker attachment fittings;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the loudspeaker attachment fittings, taken from the side of the speaker;

FIG. 3 is a combination view illustrating the fitting and a loudspeaker before assembly;

FIG. 4 is a view of the loudspeaker with the fitting assembled to the sound board;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a further embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a further embodiment; and

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the loudspeaker attached to a sound board.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a sheet or diaphragm 2 having a sound opening 1 formed therein. The diaphragm is curved, so as to have a convex surface at the upper side of FIG. 1, and a concave surface at the lower side of FIG. 1. Projections are formed on the diaphragm 2, for example by being punched from the diaphragm material. The projections are located at sides of the loudspeaker roughly parallel to the axis of bowing, or bend of the spring material. These projections are in form of clips 3, projecting form the convex side, and hooks 4,

projecting from the concave side. The clips 3 are generally S-shaped and are so dimensioned with respect to the loudspeaker that when the diaphragm is stressed against its bend, that is, is flattened, the clips 3 will snap over the edge of the cage of the loudspeaker to be held. The hooks 4 are generally U-shaped and dimensioned to fit around the edge of the sound opening 1 of the sound board 2. They project outwardly, that is, in the direction opposite to the clips 3. The diaphragm is further formed with projections 5 which are dimensioned and placed on the diaphragm to fit into remaining attachment holes usually present in loudspeaker cages, and to properly locate the loudspeaker cage on the diaphragm.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, which illustrate the use of the fitting of the present invention: A loudspeaker 6 is secured to the sound board 7, for example, by first loosely inserting the diaphragm 2 in the sound board opening as illustrated in FIG. 3. This can be done, for example, by hand or by loosely attaching the loudspeaker 6 to one of the clips 3. The hooks 4 extend around the edges 9 of the sound board opening 8. As the speaker 6 is then pressed towards the sound board 7, the edge 11 of the loudspeaker cage, usually having a ring of compressible'material 10 such as foamed plastic or the like placed thereon, causes stressing of the bowed strip or diaphragm 2. The hooks 4 will slip behind the edges 9 of the opening 8 in the sound board, and clips 3 will snap around the edge 11 of the loudspeaker cage. The loudspeaker cage is thus securely held against the sound board 7.

The diaphragm can be formed of an essentially rectangular sheet element (wherein rectangular is deemed to include the special case where all sides are equal, that is, square), may be round, or have any other suitable shape fitting the loudspeaker. The sound opening 1 of the diaphragm 2 need not be an entire opening but can be in the form of a grille, punched grid, or the like; likewise, the sound opening 8 in sound board 7 may already have the form of a grille, provided only that openings of sufficient size are formed near the edge 9 to permit the books 4 to slip thereover. Such partial openings are to be deemed to be within the scope of the term sound opening" herein referred to.

The modification according to FIGS. 5-7 is particularly suitable where mounting space is limited or highly impeded. The diaphragm 12 is essentially similar to the diaphragm 2, but differs in that one side is not fonned with a clip 3 but rather is formed with flaps 13 which are located to fit through the lateral attachment holes 14 of the loudspeaker cage of loudspeaker 15. The loudspeaker 15 is pre-assembled with the diaphragm 12 by threading flaps 13 through two matching attachment holes 14 of the loudspeaker 15, and then deforming the flaps to securely hold the diaphragm and the loudspeaker together. The pre-assembled sub-assembly of loudspeaker-diaphragm is then placed in position, for example behind or beneath the dashboard of an automobile, permitting installation with one hand only, by slipping hooks 4 around the edge 9 of the sound board, as before, and snapping the left side of the loudspeaker (with reference to FIGS. 5-7) into the spring clip 3, so that the loudspeaker will be held in position as seen in FIG. 7.

The sound zone, that is, the region from where the sound is projected covers the sound hole, or opening, and as referred to above, may be partially obstructed,

for example by being formed with grillwork or the like.

The diaphragm can be made as a flat sheet with a sound opening as shown in FIGS. 2, 6, or as a strip, with suitable perforations, or suitably shaped to permit attachment of the loudspeaker thereto through one or more of its attachment holes, or by spring clips.

The arrangement in accordance with the present invention permits mounting of a loudspeaker in locations which are accessible only with great difficulty. The attachment requires no additional screws, rivets, or any auxiliaries which require the use of tools, and can be entirely carried out by hand and without any tools whatsoever. It does not require any drilling or modification of the usually existing sound openings in the sound board.

Various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention concept.

We claim:

1. A fitting to secure a loudspeaker (6) to a sound board (7) formed with a sound opening (8), comprising a sheet (2) of thin, springy sheet material which, in

unstressed state, is bowed, and when stressed and flattened has an outline extending at least in part to the outline of the cage of the loudspeaker, the sheet having a sound opening zone similar to the sound opening of the sound board;

means securing said sheet (2) to two opposed lateral sides of the loudspeaker (6) including at least one outer spring clip (3) projecting away from the convex surface of the bowed sheet and at the side of the sheet which extends parallel to the bend axis of the bowed sheet;

and means to attach said sheet (2) to the sound board (7) including at least one inner hook (4) projecting away from the concave surface of the bowed sheet at the sound opening zone and located nearest to said side of the sheet which extends parallel to the bend axis of the bowed sheet, the hook (4) being bent over said sheet and away from said sound zone to permit fitting of the bowed sheet, with the concave surface against the sound board (7 and engagement of the hook through the sound opening (8) of the sound board (7) and over the edge (9) thereof and upon stretching and flattening of the sheet by contact of the convex surface with the loudspeaker cage, engagement of the edge of the cage of the loudspeaker with the clip (3).

2. A fitting according to claim 1, wherein at least two spring clips (3) are provided, one each located at opposite sides of the sheet.

3. A fitting according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is generally rectangular and wherein the clip (3) is located at a marginal edge of the sheet.

4. A fitting according to claim 1, wherein the sheet (2) is formed with locating projections fitting matching holes (14) in the loudspeaker cage to locate the speaker in position on the sheet.

5. A fitting according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is form'edwith gripping means (13) projecting from the convex surface of the sheet and located to engage the loudspeaker cage (15) through holes (14) formed in the cage.

6. A fitting according to claim 5, wherein the gripping means (13) comprises deformable projecting flaps.

7. A fitting according to claim 5, wherein the convex surface of the sheet has one clip (3) located at one side thereof and the gripping means are located at opposite sides thereof;

and two hooks (4) are located at opposite sides, and

projecting from the concave surface of the sheet.

8. A fitting according to claim 1, wherein the clip has a first spring portion extending from the side of the sheet towards the sound zone thereof, and a second end portion reversely bent with respect to the spring portion to permit snap catch engagement of the loudspeaker cage with the clip.

9. A fitting according to claim 1, wherein at least two hooks (4) are provided, one each located at opposite sides of the soundzone and having end portions extending away from each other and spaced from the sheet when the sheet is flattened, by aboutthe thickness of the sound board 7).

10. A fitting according to claim 1, wherein the clip or clips and the hook or hooks are bentaway portions shaped from the material of the sheet and unitary therewith.

11. A loudspeaker having a speaker cage, being formed with an edge rim and an attachment fitting to attach the loudspeaker to a sound board having a sound opening comprising the combination of a stressed, substantially flat strip of spring material which, when unstressed, is convexly bowed towards the speaker cage, said flat strip lying flat against the speaker cage;

means projecting from the surface facing the loudspeaker on the flat strip to secure the flat spring material strip to the cage at one side thereof;

a resilient spring clip, projecting from the surface facing the loudspeaker on said strip to resiliently engage over the edge of the speaker cage at the other side thereof, said means and spring clip being located at opposite sides of the axis about which the strip bows when unstressed;

and at least two hooks projecting from the surface which is concavely bowed when the spring is unstressed, the hooks having end portions facing away from said axis and engaging around the edge of the sound opening of the sound board.

12. Combination according to claim 1 1, wherein said securing means comprises another clip.

13. Combination according to claim 11, wherein said cage has attachment holes and said securing means comprises deformable flaps extending through said holes and being deformed to hold the loudspeaker and the strip together and in aligned position. 

1. A fitting to secure a loudspeaker (6) to a sound board (7) formed with a sound opening (8), comprising a sheet (2) of thin, springy sheet material which, in unstressed state, is bowed, and when stressed and flattened has an outline extending at least in part to the outline of the cage of the loudspeaker, the sheet having a sound opening zone similar to the sound opening of the sound board; means securing said sheet (2) to two opposed lateral sides of the loudspeaker (6) including at least one outer spring clip (3) projecting away from the convex surface of the bowed sheet and at the side of the sheet which extends parallel to the bend axis of the bowed sheet; and means to attach said sheet (2) to the sound board (7) including at least one inner hook (4) projecting away from the concave surface of the bowed sheet at the sound opening zone and located nearest to said side of the sheet which extends parallel to the bend axis of the bowed sheet, the hook (4) being bent over said sheet and away from said sound zone to permit fitting of the bowed sheet, with the concave surface against the sound board (7) and engagement of the hook through the sound opening (8) of the sound board (7) and over the edge (9) thereof and upon stretching and flattening of the sheet by contact of the convex surface with the loudspeaker cage, engagement of the edge of the cage of the loudspeaker with the clip (3).
 2. A fitting according to claim 1, wherein at least two spring clips (3) are provided, one each located at opposite sides of the sheet.
 3. A fitting according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is generally rectangular and wherein the clip (3) is located at a marginal edge of the sheet.
 4. A fitting according to claim 1, wherein the sheet (2) is formed with locating projections (5) fitting matching holes (14) in the loudspeaker cage to locate the speaker in position on the sheet.
 5. A fitting according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is formed with gripping means (13) projecting from the convex surface of the sheet and located to engage the loudspeaker cage (15) through holes (14) formed in the cage.
 6. A fitting according to claim 5, wherein the gripping means (13) comprises deformable projecting flaps.
 7. A fitting according to claim 5, wherein the convex surface of the sheet has one clip (3) located at one side thereof and the gripping means are located at opposite sides thereof; and two hooks (4) are located at opposite sides, and projecting from the concave surface of the sheet.
 8. A fitting according to claim 1, wherein the clip has a first spring portion extending from the side of the sheet towards the sound zone thereof, and a second end portion reversely bent with respect to the spring portion to permit snap catch engagement of the loudspeaker cage with the clip.
 9. A fitting according to claim 1, wherein at least two hooks (4) are provided, one each located at opposite sides of the sound zone and having end portions extending away from each other and spaced from the sheet when the sheet is flattened, by about the thickness of the sound board (7).
 10. A fitting according to claim 1, wherein the clip or clips and the hook or hooks are bent-away portions shaped from the material of the sheet and unitary therewith.
 11. A loudspeaker having a speaker cage, being formed with an edge rim and an attachment fitting to attach the loudspeaker to a sound board having a sound opening comprising the combination of a stressed, substantially flat strip of spring material which, when unstressed, is convexly bowed towards the speaker cage, said flat strip lying flat against the speaker cage; means projecting from the surface facing the loudspeaker on the flat strip to secure the flat spring material strip to the cage at one side thereof; a resilient spring clip, projecting from the surface facing the loudspeaker on said strip to resiliently engage over the edge of the speaker cage at the other side thereof, said means and spring clip being located at opposite sides of the axis about which the strip bows when unstressed; and at least two hooks projecting from the surface which is concavely bowed when the spring is unstressed, the hooks having end portions facing away from said axis and engaging around the edge of the sound opening of the sound board.
 12. Combination according to claim 11, wherein said securing means comprises another clip.
 13. Combination according to claim 11, wherein said cage has attachment holes and said securing means comprises deformable flaps extending through said holes and being deformed to hold the loudspeaker and the strip together and in aligned position. 